Dadar locals launch campaign against 'dangerous' cell towers

Residents of Dadar Parsi colony have initiated a campaign to highlight the hazards of radiation that they are exposed to because of the 14 mobile tower antennae on terraces of buildings surrounding their own.

The residents, who will organise a peaceful rally next week, have put up large banners inside the compounds, started a signature campaign and are distributing brochures with details on guidelines prepared by the Union department of telecommunication (DoT) on suspected health hazards posed by exposure to electromagnetic fields.

"In the past few years, six cases of cancer were detected in the two buildings that face the towers. With the towers almost in line with our flats, we are expo-sed to direct radiation through the day," said Nitin Gandhi, a resident of Shree Samarth building, whose wife was detected with cancer in 2009.

"Despite approaching concerned landlords, none of the towers have been dismantled. We have observed that most of the norms laid down by the DoT and the civic body have not been adhered to," added Gandhi.

Many also complained of sleeplessness, headaches and dizziness. "This rally and anti-radiation campaign is being organised to ensure the overall health and well-being of residents," said Dilnavaz Daruvala, another resident, whose husband was detected with cancer.

Suresh Parab, senior police inspector from Matunga police station said that requisite permissions had been sought for organising the peace rally and fixing banners. Despite repeated calls and text messages, Saroj Barucha from Sohrab House, which has installed seven of the 14 mobile tower antennae, refused to comment.